There’s a new display in the Teen Space at the library – all about science and science fiction. If you’re into sci fi, you will know that while it is fiction and thus “made up” most of it has as its basis real science. Cold, hard science. Usually, even if the sci fi is based in a far future (which much sci fi is) and thus the author must rely on their imaginations to present the science that will be prevalent at that future time, what happens is not too different from things we see today. Climate change, natural disasters, pandemics, genetic engineering, computer hacking, cyber-terrorism, and more: sounds like sci fi. And these are things you can hear, see and read in the news every day.

Delve into the science behind science fiction with these lists of non-fiction about real science, coupled with fiction which explores that real science in a made-up world. Whether you’re a bio geek, a hacker, an engineer or just a fan of a good story, you’ll find a book on this list to suit you.

On the recommendation of some manga fans, we now have Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure! We will eventually have Volumes 1-7, but for now you can get started in the middle with Vol. 4 or Vol. 7. This is an older Shonen Jump manga from way back in 2006. Jojo is possessed by an evil spirit – and that’s why it’s a bizarre adventure.

Roll Percy Jackson and Superman together and you’ve got Battling Boy. Paul Pope is a comics genius, too, so this is an awesome read. Battling Boy – a demigod – is sent into Acropolis to see what he can do about a little child-snatching ghoul problem they are having. Along the way, his godly status and manhood are tested by problems both normal – an overbearing father and a meddling young lady – and not so normal – uncontrollable superpowers granted by his magical t-shirts.

Yes, this is non-fiction. But this epic saga of American life from the early twentieth century is made more epic by the fact that it’s told as a graphic novel. The Dust Bowl is anything but dusty history when told this way – with clear imagery, cite-able facts (you can use it for research!) and compelling narrative both visual and textual. It’s a really fun way to learn your history.

When I saw Gene Luen Yang’s newest graphic novel on the shelves, I was inspired to pair it with a couple of other new releases set in, and about life in, Asian countries. Interestingly, these books almost perfectly span the entire 20th century, and are also tied together by a common theme of ancient versus modern cultural values: Yang takes us to late-nineteenth century China, we fast-forward to mid-century India in A Moment Comes by Jennifer Bradbury, and finally Amanda Sun’s first book in the Paper Gods serieslets us travel to modern-day Japan.

In true Yang fashion, this is an incredibly unique offering. First of all, it is two books, published simultaneously. You finish one and pick up the other immediately. Oh yeah, and it’s a fictionalized account of real Chinese history. In China in 1898, Christian missionaries from abroad roam the country, converting Chinese peasants through demeaning and violent coercion. Little Bao is fed up with seeing his people suffer in the name of this foreign religion, so he summons the powers of the ancient Chinese gods, and an army of commoners who call themselves Boxers, to fight them down. Saints tells the story parallel to Little Bao’s. Four-Girl is an unwanted daughter, not even given a name, But she finds acceptance, and a name, through Christianity. Because of the Boxer rebellion, China is unsafe for Christian Chinese like herself and she finds her loyalties tested between her nationality and her faith.

It is 1947 in India, a country about to be liberated and partitioned – the Muslim part, Pakistan, severed from the remainder of the country. Tariq is a Muslim Indian, so life is not easy at this moment for him. He dreams of getting out and studying at Oxford in England, but because of his religion he does not have clear access to that world. When he is offered a job translating for the English cartographers working on drawing the India-Pakistan borders, he leaps at the opportunity in the hopes it will lead him to his Oxford dream. He soon meets Margaret, the cartographer’s daughter, who is desperate for fun and attracted to Tariq’s foreignness. But Anupreet, the Sikh girl – and thus very off-limits – catches Tariq’s attention. The tensions in the country do not make love easy, and all three young people find their paths are wilder than they had every hoped.

This is the first book in a planned series by debut author, Sun, called Paper Gods. When Katie’s normal life explodes in front of her eyes, she is sent off to live in Japan with an aunt. She doesn’t speak the language and is utterly alone and out of place, until she meets Tomohiro. Tomo is popular, gorgeous, and shouldn’t want to have anything to do with awkward Katie, but neither of them can deny the things that happen when they are together. Pens explode, ink drips from nowhere, drawings…live. Tomo is part of an ancient order called the kami. Soon the two are drawn into a world of intrigue as the wrong people start asking the right questions about the kami and both Katie and Tomo find themselves in danger.

Are you a graphic novel fan? And I don’t mean manga – that is its own thing. Or comics – that’s another separate entity. Comics are usually published in issues, they’re shorter and have an ongoing storyline like a series book (i.e. Superman. Or any other superhero you can think of. Or Calvin & Hobbes). Manga is Japanese comics. Same idea: ongoing storyline, etc. Graphic novels is a name that usually refers to stories told in pictures and words, typically one-off or non-series stories (or sometimes short series like a trilogy), with unique characters (not Batman), etc.

Graphic novels cross audiences: they’re typically realistic or fantasy fiction, so could easily be read by fans of those genres, but they are told visually, so could be read by fans of visual story forms like manga and comics. But it seems to me that neither of these fan groups really find the graphic novels. I’m here to tell you that you are both missing out!

A sort of semi-fictionalized memoir, this book tells the story of Beyer’s freshman year at an art college. She’s far from home, exploring her art form, making new friends, and learning who she is. And she conveys this story in a completely brilliant way: through lists, drawings, panels of comic-strip-type action, and more. It’s like a scrapbook that tells a wonderful story of some big life moments, something we can all relate to.

You will love Delilah Dirk if you love feisty lady protagonists like Katsa (from Graceling by Kristin Cashore). She’s like Indiana Jones, but a young lady in the early 19th century! Delilah seeks and finds adventure, but that adventure has landed her in prison. When she makes her escape, Delilah decides to take along a lieutenant who is decidedly her opposite. Selim, despite being quite a proper gentleman who prefers staying in to going out, actually makes a great partner for daredevil Delilah as the two gallivant across the world. Action and adventure await!

This is a little like Diary of a Wimpy Kid for those of you in middle and high school who have already grown out of that series. Annie and her friends are not the popular crowd. Not that life is much easier for those people – everyone is a freshman and being a freshman is not always fun. But it is a constant learning experience, and as Annie and her crew learn, that learning extends far outside of the four walls of the classroom. And it is sometimes really awesome.

There are some awesome new graphic novels hitting your Shorewood Library YA shelves this week! New graphic novels can be hard to spot because we don’t shelve them with the other new books. Instead, they go right onto the graphic novels shelves where they are usually very quickly scooped up. Grab these ones soon!

Will (Wilhelmina) is afraid of the dark so when Hurricane Whit comes to town causing a blackout, Will finds herself being tested, again. She already lost both her parents in an accident in the last year, so she’s been keeping a low profile in life while she tries desperately to recover from that trauma. Will’s journey to cope in the dark without the light and strength of her family is told with a unique, flowing layout to the text and drawings. A great read for fans of realistic fiction by authors like John Green and A.S. King.

A high school battle for popularity, class elections, and overall standing like nothing you’ve seen before. Best pals Nate and Charlie suddenly find themselves on opposite sides of an all-out war when Nate’s geeky robotics crew goes after the cheerleaders that jock Charlie is…fond of. Only one group can get the funding they need, so both groups resort to rip-roaring pranks causing near total destruction. Nothing can possibly go wrong.

Part biography, part intro to primate biology, all graphic novel. Cool! This is a brief look at the lives and groundbreaking work of three of the 20th centuries most important animal scientists. It’s a quick read that will inspire you to dig deeper into the lives of these three women.

Friday is the day for new books! What’s shiny and unread on the Shorewood Library shelves this week? Graphic novels!

Cardboard written and illustrated by Doug TenNapel

In this stand-alone graphic novel, Doug TenNapel (author of other great graphics including Bad Island and Ghostopolis) tells us the story of Cam and his hard-up and out-of-work dad who tries to create a little magic for Cam on his birthday. Cam’s dad builds a cardboard creature that comes to life, with somewhat disastrous consequences for the entire town once bad-boy neighbor Marcus gets his wily hands on it. If you like stories involving a little adventure, a little fantasy, and a little world-saving, and stories of off-kilter villains and humble heroes, you’ll love this one.

Broxo written and illustrated by Zack Giallongo

Fantasy meets zombie invasion meets graphic novel in this unique adventure story. If you are a fan of fantasy and/or zombie fic, but not yet on board with graphic novels, start with Broxo. The title character, Broxo, is the last surviving member of a band of barbarians who spends his time avoiding the walking dead that periodically try to share his deserted mountaintop with him. When a princess comes along, she and Broxo team-up to defeat the zombie-like creatures and try to unravel the mystery of Broxo’s lost band of warriors. A fun read!

Madeline L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel adapted and illustrated by Hope Larson

Hope Larson re-imagines A Wrinkle in Time visually, creating the world of Meg Murry we have all only seen in our imaginations. If you haven’t read A Wrinkle in Time in a while, pick this up for a really great reminder, and to discover new things about the story, too. (That said, if you’ve never read A Wrinkle in Time start with the non-graphic novel version…)

The Milwaukee Public Library is having a Manga Drawing Contest! Any teen living in Milwaukee County is welcome to show off their skills. There are great gift card prizes; deadline is October 24th so get drawing!

Rosario + Vampire – No matter what he does, Tsukune can’t get into any high school…except for one. But on his first day he finds the rest of the student body isn’t exactly normal. Does he have any chance of raising his grades at a school where the turf war isn’t between jocks and nerds but vampires and werewolves?

Negima! – Ten-year-old prodigy Negi Springfield, has just graduated from magic academy. He dreams of becoming a master wizard but instead is sent to Japan to teach English . . . at an all-girls high school! All the students are delighted with their cute new teacher—except for Asuna, who resents Negi for replacing the teacher she secretly has a crush on. And when Asuna discovers Negi’s secret, she vows to make his life as difficult as possible— just the thing to prepare Negi for the challenges of life as a master wizard!

Aria – One-hundred and fifty years after its terraforming, Aqua, the planet formerly known as Mars, is now almost completely covered in water. A young girl named Akari Mizunashi lives in the city of Neo-Venezia, an exact replica of the old Italian city of Venice, where she works as a gondolier tour guide. While giving people tours of her beautiful city, Akari learns to appreciate her city when she helps an elderly tourist find his daughter, teaches a friend some history about ancient Venice and discovers the secret behind Aqua’s unusual sun showers.

High School Debut– Up until now, Haruna Nagashima’s life consisted of playing softball and reading comics. But now that she’s going to high school, Haruna decides to put all of her energy towards getting a boyfriend and having the high school romance of a lifetime! To help in her quest, she enlists cute upperclassman Yo Komiyama to coach her as she forgets her jock past and turns herself into the kind of girl who can catch a guy. Yo agrees, with one catch: Haruna had better not fall for him!